hump day nuggets: lighten

03 . 09 . 11

hump day nuggets: little bits of the season in photos and words about the last week

I had an evening with my girlfriends last night. We went out to dinner to celebrate a birthday and, as we were leaving the restaurant, delaying departure, just one more thing, as the servers hovered and put up chairs around us, Gillian said how about a hot tub?

It sounded great but it was late and a weeknight and we have babies and things to do early in the morning. Casey turned to me and said, Let’s do it. Let’s pretend like we don’t have any responsibilities.

So we did. Because, at that moment, really the only responsibility we did have was to take advantage of that moment. Sometimes that is hard to remember. Like, this last week when I felt overwhelmed by the weight of the world and what ifs.

Thank you so much for your kind thoughts last week. We are thankful to report all is well.

I know it is important to look ahead, plan, set goals and pay attention to the future. But, as I age, I learn that I am much happier when my direct, concentration and focus are on today and all that stuff is in my periphery, floating, attainable and exciting. When I give my future life too much attention I get anxious.

So last night we soaked and talked late into the night. And it was really great. I felt the heaviness lift and lighten.

nuggets.

:: Grandma Joan came and went. It is so awesome having her energy in our home.

:: We went swimming at our local indoor aquatic center.

:: And the carousel.

:: Margot announced we need to share our books. “I just really think Jason and Caroline and Hugo and Atticus probably don’t have any books. I want to share some of ours. But just a couple.” She chose Weekend Sewing for Jason (dad), Visual Arts os Africa for Hugo (five years old), Chicken Tractor for Atticus (eight years old) and Portland Art Museum Oregon Biennial for Caroline (mom).

:: “Mama, Ruby doesn’t like her vitamins!”“Oh ok you can have hers if you want.”“THANKS mama!” as she spontaneously dances.“So, where are they?”“Well, I already ate them because you just said I could.”

:: Sam Bubbas is super hard to photograph.

:: I said to Margot, “Dad has had a long, stressful day. What do you think would make him feel really good?” After a delay, “Well, I think he wants a sparkly blue number three balloon that I can play with too.”

:: INSERT DREAMBOAT ::

All photos from here on out are taken with my new camera. This next bit may be boring to non-camera folk but there are things that make me so effing giddy about my handsome lover. Like, the depth of field! And the ISO goes to 6400! And the zoom takes my breath away! And it’s so sharp! And fast! And easy to adjust aperture and shutter speed with the flick of a finger! I am seriously in love with this camera. It came at just the right time as I feel like I had maxed out my Rebel XT. I knew that camera’s capabilities completely. And, now. Now I have a whole new world to explore and learn and master. Hello, lover.

:: Rhubarb continues to walk but mostly chooses not to.

Ruby likes to wear Margot’s helmet. Her inclination to do everything Margot does about breaks my heart with its sincere love.

:: When the temps warm a bit, the chickens bury their beaks in mud. See, we’re all ready for spring.

:: When my new camera landed in my arms my kids were sleeping so I did what any shutter-happy mama would do, I snuck into my room and got down with Dreamboat. Margot is a super sound sleeper but she did wake, probably because I was kindof squealing as I snapped away, trying to find functions. She furrowed her brow and said, “Mom. I’m sleeping right now.” and rolled over. Fair enough.

:: We plotted and planned our garden. Margot will grow “carrots, beets, pizza, ice cream, more carrots and a pumpkin.”

:: Margot really wanted a long skirt like her nightgown. So, one morning while Ruby napped we went to the studio together and she directed the making of her “really long skirt with a sparkly pink and sparkly gold heart.”

:: As you may know, I write a weekly column, mama digs, for mamalode.com. You may not know that mamalode is also a witty, rich, purposeful quarterly print magazine.

And I am psyched to have mamalode as a new dig sponsor! This business, its mission and product are dear to my heart.

Mamalode is different than most parenting magazines. It’s not how-to, it’s not preachy, it’s not one-dimensional. It is real stories, told well. It is something-for-everyone. It is honest, important, interesting and poignant. Publisher Elke Govertsen says, “we don’t lean left or right, just on each other.”

Leave a comment for a chance to win a one-year subscription to mamalode! If you’d like, let us know what theme you would would like to have an issue dedicated to (previous themes: Firsts, Identity, Village, Adventure, Connection, Work, Home).

Click here to subscribe or just leave the window open to give your partner a hint at the perfect Mother’s Day gift….Thank you, mamalode!

:: Ruby doesn’t have many words but it insanely, resourcefully communicative. She signs, points and nods yes and no. So we have entire conversations where she tells me what she wants for dinner by process of elimination. I am in deep love with this kid.

:: Margot fell and came running to me. She cried and curled into me in that lovely way that reminds me of her infancy. I held her and swept her hair from her eyes. Ruby crawled over wanting up and Margot said, through sobs, “Ruby, your mother is holding her other daughter right now. And that daughter really just needs some alone time with her mother.”

106 Responses to hump day nuggets: lighten

Wow, can I actually be the first one to comment today? I am always one of the last ones :-0 Hmmm..maybe my luck is changing. I love your girlie pictures and am envious of your new lover. I am saving slowly for a new camera of my own..most likely just like your older one as I learn. Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week!

As always I love reading your post esp. the “nuggets”. You are so smart to be writing down all the cute little sayings. Sometimes I forget what my girls say and then wish I could remember. I think a magazine devoted to the word “simplify” would be lovely!

It looks as if you are quickly mastering that dreamboat of yours. Your photos are beautiful. Ruby has such pretty, curly hair. And Margot is looking long, lanky and little girlish. Cuties. Love your nuggets this week.

Loving the drama of this post. Thank you! And I love that I get to double my chances at winning a mamalode subscription…once with Lainey & Nella and once with Margot & Ruby. If that isn’t good luck, I don’t know what is!

Hi, I’ve not posted before but I just wanted to say thank you! Your blog makes me smile, or makes me think, or makes me thankful, or all of the above. Thank you for sharing so honestly. HeatherPS I love the things that Margot says – she is brilliant!

I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a subscription to Mamalode and plan to get one for me and one for my sis…unless I win one, then I will just get one for my sis I love your blog and your weekly column and have shared many articles with my friends, so i am sure Mamalode in print is amazing! I would love to see an issue with the theme of “Recovery”. I work as a Postpartum Adjustment Coordinator at a hospital in Michigan. I work with women who are at high risk for and suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety. Obviusly this issue is near and dear to my heart and I have the privilege of helping Moms in such a vulnerable state. The only good thing about PPD is that it is 100% treatable and oh how I rejoice in the recoveries, seeing a Momma go from the pit, to a bright, energetic, in love with her baby women is the best thing ever!! Okay i am jumping off my soap box now! Keep up the awesom work Nicci…I love what your doin -Kelly

The Canon 60D is my D-R-E-A-M camera! So happy to get to see how it functions through your beautiful, charismatic photos! I do so thoroughly enjoy reading “dig” and your mamadigs. Keep up the good work!

The other day after an ugly spill, my oldest, William, said to my youngest, Eleanor: “Eleanor, get back in mommy’s tummy!” Ohhhhhhhhh. After my heart reassembled, I giggled. But Goodness, they say the darndest…

I am totally in love with Ruby’s curls and also with Margot’s knack for language and expressing herself so well! I hope to someday have a beautiful daughter but for now am relishing all the fun that is my boy!

I always look forward to what Margot has to say! And both your girls have the cutest clothes (I wish I could sew!) Who wouldn’t love to win a subscription to Mamalode?! I’ll show my husband this because we both like to keep it real! x

Sweet! Another opportunity to win a subscription to Mamalode! (I commented on Kelle’s blog too.) I really, really miss just being able to pick up Mamalode around town in Missoula. I concur with one of the above commenters, I would like to see an issue on “simplify.” As parents, we are bombarded with so many must-haves that are often in conflict with the values we once held, pre-parent.

And thanks so much for sharing some of your favorite features of the 60D. Seriously, did you really use ALL the features of your Rebel, or did you just know what they did and have your favorites?

Beautiful post – both in words and pictures! Love Margot-isms and can’t wait for Ruby-isms. What a fabulous camera and lense. I used to have similar lens and loved it so much! Style wise I’ve moved on to mostly wide-angle since my son started crawling but some days I really miss that zoom! (PS thanks for the Vann’s deal – my 50mm/1.8 came yesterday and I let out a few squeals of my own – if you ever want to see some AMAZING depth of field try one of those!)

Topic idea for a Mamalode issue: Balance. Striving for more of that this year.

When you got to the hot tub part, before I read I’m thinking ‘oh, please say yes’ because I knew you needed it. This post is cozy and makes me wish I had a ticket to come tomorrow. Love the last pic of Rubes.

Wow, so many things I could comment on. Love the new camera, the depth of field and focus is just stunning. Can’t wait to see more!

Margo’s comments could be a twitterfeed, I swear. The whole ‘your mother is holding her other daughter…’ that’s just incredible! She seems to have a seriously mature grasp on the world.

To answer your question, I’d love to see a parenting magazine with ‘possibility’ as a theme. I’m not a mom, but I do want to be one! But with the bad job economy, and the money it takes to raise a child, and all the hardship we hear about from the world regarding mothering, I’d love to see a magazine issue based on possibility. With articles on thriftiness, success stories, articles busting the myths of parenting (for example, you can be a good mom and NOT buy the wipe warmer or the super expensive stroller) success stories, stories of the community pitching in, etc.

And about the hot tub, sometimes you just need to do it, go overboard for the sake of the moment. Even though you may curse yourself a bit in the morning for staying up the extra two hours to soak in the tub, well, it’s important. my friend sam says it this way: it’s just the right amount of too much! I’m writing a post on my blog about that right now, actually.

Seeing the little things, celebrating the small moments, living now, taking care of the now, are all growing parts of our lives. Planning, while sometimes necessary, is for the future and we miss out on the here and now, planning away. This year, more than ever, I’m living in the moment, celebrating daily, glass is half-full consciousness.

I love your pics, and using your tips to improve mine. I got my “dreamboat” in November and still working on all it can do:)

Topics I’d love to see are on identity, who we are, how we mold and change as our lives change. Plus I’d love a subscription to the great mag!

my older daughter, at nearly 3, has just started speaking and it’s so great to be having any kind of conversation with her. And hopefully she and I will have conversations as amazing as yours and Margot’s.

The amazing part are my conversations with my little one (13 months). It’s all signs, head nods and such. Much like yours and Ruby’s and the way you described it made me smile with understanding and awe. It’s a pleasant surprise after the struggles with my older daughter to see how easy communication comes to such a little person. It amazes me and makes me sad to realize how behind my first is…

Sorry about the tangent. I love reading your blog. Tonight’s just really touched a nerve for some reason. Love the pics from the new camera. I am still trying to learn what my canon xt2 has to offer.

I would love to see a magazine devoted to reality. Topics could range from the reality of parenting, your new reality, etc. My best mommy friends are the ones that are honest about mommyhood – it’s not always easy!

I love the one picture of Ruby walking with her tongue hanging out. So funny that babes do that when trying to concentrate! My little one is also just starting to walk and I find it to be such a bittersweet transition… part of me want to scoop her up and kiss her cheeks to celebrate her new-found skill, but the other part of me want to scoop her up and kiss her cheeks and tell her to stop growing up so darn quick.

What beautiful girls! Your posts always hit close to home; I have two little girls almost exactly the same age as yours and we sometimes have very similar days! Congrats on the camera as well, I must admit I’m a bit jealous!

first of all: “I am much happier when my direct, concentration and focus are on today and all that stuff is in my periphery, floating, attainable and exciting. When I give my future life too much attention I get anxious.” Wow. I think as a 20-something I will skip this decade of learning and try to be just like this, right now.ok, so maybe that’s unrealistic, but I will try. thank you for the good example.

I swear Ruby looks bigger since last week! Maybe its a trick of your new camera but in the ‘belly’ pic I see a little girl instead of a baby girl. Would live a subscription to Mamalode – and a theme of that elusive thing called BALANCE.Kateps I love that you seized the hottub opportunity!

So, Rubes is a mini Andy, I caught a glimpse of her future self in those last couple of shots, wow! Amazing how they grow and change so quickly!

And what lovely, mindful, expressive girls you are raising!! Cheers, Holt-Cline family!

***

Tonight on our (first) commute home (with Simon the cat meowing from the carrier in the back–Avi assured me I need not respond as “Simon is just talking to himself, Mommy”), Avi busted out with, “I love my family, Mommy,” and Leeor decided we are doing a pretty okay job at this whole parenting thing . . .and then we got home and cranky, tired, hungry me got snappy and Avi was all soothy, “It’s okay Mommy.” Sheesh. When did these toddlers get so wise?

We also had a lengthy conversation about nostalgia (after we made our very last trip to our old pad and handed over the keys) as well as how it’s okay to be mad at those you love, Avi again, “Like when I get mad at you sometimes, Mommy.” Holy shit. I just need to get out of my own way sometimes.

So glad you opted for the late-night tub!!

And–my friend got her hoodie for her girl, Avi’s bff, and loves it so, I quote, “cutest hoodie ever!” xoxo

Oh Nici, yet again Margot has me in stitches with her wise words & charasmatic responses…and I’m loving that photo of her adventuring through the long brown grass {in her signature Margot skirt….which my daughter lurves & wears way too often!}. And, wow..Miss Ruby is growing up so beautifully. It’s been wonderful to watch her journey & see her grow! That last photo of her is my fave Happy Hump Day Nici.xo

Last month I was reading one of my parenting magazines and there was an Elke from your town in one of the articles…must have been this Elke I’d love to win that subscription, sounds like an awesome magazine. I love the theme of transitions. Transitions happen constantly with little ones and are usually exiting yet bittersweet all at once.

I love reading your blog! I’ve come over from Enjoying the Small Things. Your hump day nuggets make my mornings when I ready them. I LOVE Ruby’s Down Dog, way too cute! Im also thinking about doing virgin harvest!

hi! just found your blog the other day and am completely distracted (while supposed to be working)…i love it:) love the sweet pictures of your girls and your dreamboat is so my dreamboat too, but mine’s not in my hands…yet:) thanks for sharing:)

I’ve been reading for several months now and am drawn to your blog as I have a Ruby of my own who is the same age as Margot and I think they would be great friends if we lived in the same town. I also have a 6 month old daughter and I hope my girls will be as much in love with each other as Margot and Ruby are. (I also have a 6 year old son in the mix who is the best big brother ever.)

Every week you inspire me to celebrate the nuggets of my week and with our busy schedule, I need that weekly reminder. Thank you for sharing your beautiful family, including Alice, Sam Bubbas and the chickens. Now I have to go and look at Ruby doing “down dog” again – I love that photo.

I have never commented before but have been reading your blog for a while. Wanted to tell you how inspiring you are to me- your outlook on life, your mothering, your writing, and your photography are all so amazing and seriously make me aspire to live my life more fully. Thank you for that. And thanks for sharing your beautiful life. Margot quotes are the best!!

Margot’s last comment about the daughter needing her mother had me laughing out loud. So funny.Our 17-month old also loves to do everything her nearly-five-year-old brother does, and it is completely darling. I hear that lasts through the second year before it becomes outright rivalry, so I am trying to enjoy every bit of it.I am glad your family is well.

oh how i envy you right now!… the camera is the bombdiggidy… i will will will have one in the near future… i had the same relationship with my old sturdy Minoltas… carried them everywhere… now have boxes and boxes dedicated to housing negatives and photos… it tool me years to just stick my toe in the digital pool… but now that i’m there it’s kinda fantastic… have been thinking of subscribing to mamalode for a while… love reading your nuggets and any other tidbit of awesomeness you throw this way… keep on keeping on…

As always, your family is so creative and inspiring. I can almost hear how you talk with Ruby and Margot through Margot’s dialogue. I’ve been reading Mamalode online and love it! I like the idea of a theme on simple balance. Finding balance is a challenge for many of us mamas. I feel like contributors to Mamalode have good balance and ideas to share with us.

I love all the Margot-isms. I’ve been writing those down for 5 years whenever my son says something fun/cute like that. Hopefully he gets a kick out of them when he’s older. Margot’s “longer skirt” is adorable…and it’s awesome that she designed it herself.Love what your creating with that camera.I think I have lense envy.xoKris

Please don’t pick me for the subscription.. I live in Missoula and can get it anytime. I would love for new mamas to be exposed to it. But I did need to write…I love the things Margot says. I often repeat them to my husband “the three year old said to the one year old…” Has me laughing!

oh my gosh- Margot’s comments knock my socks off;). I would love a chance to win a mamalode subscription!! I think a good theme for it could be ‘balance’… all mamas do it, in some way or another. great posting and glad to hear that things are better than last week.

I love your hump day posts! One question: Do you just carry your camera around in a regular bag? or just out? I have a DSLR and want to bring it with me more often, but it is kinda big and I feel like I might break it if I just put it in my purse. Thanks!

Burb ~ I guess I have been, “Let’s pretend like we don’t have any responsibilities.”….because it has taken me this long to comment….not that it is a “responsibility” to comment…you know I AM YOUR #1 FAN!Margot Bea ~ I know you are the big sister and all…helping Ruby with yoga & identifying her body parts, designing gardens & new frocks, art, chicken chores and giving suggestions to relieve your papa’s stress.. but isn’t it reassuring to know that you are never too old to crawl in you mama’s lap and demand some alone time? I remember so clearly when I was sick, or sad or needed a boost all I needed to do my call my Mother, your Great-Grammy, and “figuratively” crawl into her lap and I would instantly feel better….I did this until the day she died, (OH how I wish she could have met you and you her). …..may you always know the love of your Mom!…. I Love YOU A Bushel & A Peck!Ruby Jane ~ Who is that little girl growing up right before my eyes?! You are so lucky to have a mentor like Margot…it won’t be long before you too will run, swim, swing, ride bikes and sit side-by-side on the carousel with her. I know soon too your mama will be quoting Rubyisms….I can hardly wait to hear what you have to say….You Are My Sunshine!Sam….you are one cute cat!

My son was born on the 4th, 4 weeks early. My first week and a few days as a mom have been the hardest, best days of my life. I read your Monday posts weekly, and would love to get my hands on the magazine in its entirety.

Would LOVE LOVE LOVE a subscription to Mamalode. Also LOVE seeing your beautiful girls. My brown-eyed three-yr-old and blue-eyed one-year-old are leading parallel lives to your girls down here in N’awlins. I would love to get my little Elise together with your sweet Ruby. I think they would have a blast.

There are so many great photos here I can’t pick a favorite. Maybe Ruby at the carousel with so much wonder in her eyes. I would love to win a Mamalode subscription and flip those pages through my fingers. Thanks for the opportunity.